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Crimson Print was once the bane of my existence. Before I learned how to set it up, I too frequently would make the trek of shame to Lamont’s basement printer-linked computers, or create a sacrificial rite to the gods of printing, whomever they may be, begging them to please help me print my measly two-page Ec 10a cheat sheet. Worst case scenario, I’d begin begging strangers in mega group chats for help, or make awkward eye contact with a random student in Lamont who clearly knew how to use the printers.

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Life was pretty miserable, until I finally figured out how to use Crimson Print. Gatekeeping is not my middle name, so here’s how to set up Crimson Print (this worked for two other people, so I may or may not now consider myself a tech expert).

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Note: These instructions are mainly for Mac, apologies to Windows users but I’m sure the steps are similar.

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For reference, these are the articles I used to set up Crimson print on my device, but it’s pretty difficult to follow and troubleshoot with.

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- https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=c8ebe9a1dbd7401096ab5682ca961934

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- http://crimsonprint.university.harvard.edu:9163/client-setup/dns/macos.html

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Instead, I present you with an easy, follow-along guide, with pictures and captions and all that jazz. You’re welcome!

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https://crimsonprint.huit.harvard.edu/user?

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https://cash.harvard.edu/

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\r\nEven printing is difficult at an academically rigorous school like Harvard. Hopefully, now you know how to print things so you do not have to go through what I did. May the Crimson Print be in your favor.

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A little birdy told us that Taylor Swift’s new album “The Tortured Poets Department” was inspired by her visits to Harvard’s campus. Even more exciting, Flyby has the inside scoop on what exactly inspired each of the new tracks. From old Harvard traditions to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, you can tell Taylor really dug into the vault to write these songs.

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1. Fortnight

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The ridiculously short amount of time Harvard students are given to register for courses.

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2. The Tortured Poets Department

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Barker Center, Cafe Gato Rojo, or Lamont Basement (especially after 3 a.m.).

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3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

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The Harvard shuttle crashing into Tasty Burger.

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4. Down Bad

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The freshman-hunters scouting for physical affection love.

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5. So Long, London

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People coming back from study abroad with a British accent. Though I suppose they would probably say something like “Cheerio, London!”

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6. But Daddy I Love Him

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Justifying your section crush to your friends.

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7. Fresh Out the Slammer

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Coming out of your final midterm.

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8. Florida!!!

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The Lampoon, the place with the most “Florida man” energy. Currier, though, if we’re thinking retirement.

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9. Guilty as Sin?

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Witnessing the Harvard tradition in the stacks.

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10. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?

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The turkeys ask as they terrorize our campus.

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11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

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Our sleep schedules (self-explanatory).

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12. loml

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General Gao’s chicken (please bring our beloved HUDS back).

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13. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart

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Your pset. (You’ve been scrolling through TikTok and you had to close the app as soon as you saw a happy couple.)

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14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

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Remy <3, but the love we have for him is big.

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15. The Alchemy

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Chem 17/27, when they teach students how to make… we’ve been informed we can’t make that joke.

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16. Clara Bow

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The grape pizza. It only appeared once but was the talk of the town. It was the true it-girl of Harvard’s campus.

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In conclusion, Taylor Swift is obligated to perform at Yardfest next year so she can get material to write her next album.

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Antong Y. Hou:

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As a freshman, the debate of Felipe’s versus Jefe’s was all the rage when I first arrived on campus. Now, there’s a new kid on the block… Achilito’s! As college students, we have no money to waste. And nothing hurts more than paying for something that is just okay. In a world of PSETs and midterms that are literally just before reading week, we can’t afford (literally) to take any more L’s.

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Here are some of my food critiquing credentials: I eat a lot of food.

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Daisy S. Gonzalez:

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Coming to Harvard, I had no hopes for either Felipe’s and Jefe’s. I’m Mexican-American and have eaten authentic Mexican food my entire life. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that fast-food Mexican restaurants cater towards a certain audience that doesn’t always include me. So when a new restaurant emerged, I was ready for change.

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Here are some of my food credentials: I only eat Mexican food unless I’m forced to eat Berg.

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Achilito’s

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AYH: Our first stop was Achilito’s. Upon first entering, the atmosphere was very vibrant and filled with more natural light than its counterpart. It only has one floor that isn’t all that spacious, making it very easy to be overheard. Overall, the vibes are good but not anything extraordinary.

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DSG: As soon as you enter, you get a more modern look than other locations. For example, the menus were on TV. I thought that was nice. I loved the brightness and the different shades of colors displayed on the walls. One thing I care about is the decoration of these restaurants. I feel like most of the time they tend to decorate Coco-like… but here they had Aztec symbols to pay more of an homage to the country’s heritage. One thing that’s noticeably different: the lack of space and privacy to gossip.

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AYH: The service was pleasant and we ordered a large ancho steak quesadilla and two shrimp tacos. I know you’re asking why we would ever purchase shrimp tacos–just trust us on this (I don’t even like shrimp). In total, the bill was $25.68. This price hurts the soul. Let’s be so for real, two tacos should not cost $11.

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Grilled Shrimp Tacos ($5.50 Each)

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AYH: Before we talk about the taste, I would like to note that the shrimp are grilled to order. I literally watched them take them out from the shrimp drawer and slap them on the grill. Immediately, the shrimp smelt amazing and the char was beautiful. Although size doesn’t always matter, the shrimp were MASSIVE. These are not shrimp. They are SHRIMP. The taco was filled with three of these monsters and was bursting at the seams. Biting in, the shrimp juices started to stream out of the taco. It was truly amazing. Despite the heft of the shrimp, the taco was extremely light. You could definitely jump after eating a few of these.

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Overall, I give this a strong 8.35/10. Again, I don’t even like shrimp, but this is just so good. However, I am not sure if it is good enough to justify the price. You can be the judge.

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DSG: I was pleasantly surprised by the look of them. I’m not going to lie. I wanted to hate shrimp tacos. What are shrimps doing on my tortilla? The flour tortillas used… well, I’m not a fan. I find all flour tortillas have a weird smell to them. However, one bite and I was lowkey left speechless. The juiciness of the shrimp combined with the salsa verde was actually ripping my tortilla in half.

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Overall, I rated this a great score of 7.85. I like shrimp; I guess I’m not used to this size… anyways I hated the price. But hey, what I will say is you will NOT be disappointed.

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Ancho Steak Quesadilla ($13.00)

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AYH: Right off the bat, the quesadilla looked really good. It was cut into three sizable rectangular pieces. Personally, I think the triangle cut tastes better, but I’ll let this slide. Right away, though, the steak was not steak-ing. In my humble opinion, I like when the steak is in chunks (refer to Chipotle). However, Achilito's seemed to be more on the shredded side. If you tried hard enough, you probably could have gaslit me into thinking it was something else. If I’m paying for steak, I want it to be unmi-steak-able. Honestly, it was alright. Unlike the shrimp tacos, however, it was extremely heavy. We split this quesadilla three ways, but I think it would definitely be subject to diminishing marginal returns on taste (for all you Ec 10-ers).

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Overall, I give this a 7.1/10. If your friends are coming here, the quesadilla isn’t a bad option. However, I wouldn’t go out of my way to get one.

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DSG: I’m a huge fan of steak quesadillas, so I only think it’s fair that you as the audience know I have my biases. I got my regular and I immediately noticed just how full my quesadilla was. There was not one bite I took that lacked any of the ingredients I added. What I will say is I am a fan of shredded steak pieces as it makes it easier to chew and in my opinion, enjoy your food. The shredded steak allows it to blend into the meal and not completely overtake it. The salsa verde is “watery” but in my opinion that just gives you a more authentic taste. I was legit sweating because of how spicy it was (not that I can’t handle my spice, it’s just been too long with Berg food). What I’m saying is that I have high expectations because I’ve had my mother’s food. Achilito’s at least met my expectations with this quesadilla.

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Overall, I give it a weaker 7.001. Why? Just because it reminded me of my mother’s food and I got sad. I wanted to tear up but didn’t… but if you ever do need to eat and cry, this is the perfect place as you are not likely to run into opps at this location.

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Achilito’s Side Note

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AYH: Many months ago, I noticed a beautiful poster outside of Achilitos that pictures three tacos perched beside a mango slushy. Also on the sign is the price of $10. However, when you walk in, the slushy is not included. It’s three tacos and a can of soda or water. If you do want the slushy, it’s $15. First of all, three tacos for $10 isn’t even that good of a deal. Second of all, that slushy is misleading.

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Next Up: Jefe’s

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AYH: After Achilito’s, we made our way over to Jefe’s. Most of you likely know what Jefe’s looks like, but I really enjoy the atmosphere of the place. And, I LOVE the second floor. They even have plants! Overall, the vibes are great.

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The service was alright and we ordered the exact same stuff to keep the review consistent: one supersize steak quesadilla and two shrimp tacos. In total, the bill was $19.42, which was $6.26 cheaper than Achilito’s.

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DSG: I walked in and well, like it’s food, it’s bland. And while there’s definitely more space to avoid your opps in here, I would just be sad knowing I’m in the same place as them. Yes there’s color but it looked like those abandoned amusement parks. However, on a late Friday and Saturday night, I just might not care.

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Grilled Shrimp Tacos ($3.95 each)

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AYH: Unlike the freshly grilled shrimp at Achilito’s, the shrimp at Jefe’s are cold and sit in a little container. Before eating, I dug around and counted three shrimp. While the quantity is the same as the Achilito’s taco, they are TINY. Upon taking my first bite, I was upset that it had no shrimp. After taking my second bite, I was even more upset that my second bite had shrimp. The shrimp were cold and tasted extremely fishy, not in a nice ocean-y way but in an old fish type of way. I did not finish it.

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Overall, I give this a 1.3/10. Literally minutes before this, I said that nothing could get below a 5. I was wrong. I know you probably weren’t planning on it, but don’t order this.

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DSG: Absolutely not. Jefe’s greatly disappointed with this meal. First of all, I hate double tortillas. I get that it’s there to avoid your taco breaking but the tortilla’s overpowered every other ingredient I had in my mouth. I felt like I was just eating bare tortillas. ESPECIALLY because the shrimp was incredibly small… and while some of you are okay with that, in my food, it is not appreciated. I just preferred the taste of Achilito’s shrimp. Jefe’s Taqueria is definitely a place you go to for a late night snack and if you’re intoxicated, then this food’s taste won’t matter.

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Overall, the limit of HOW BAD this taco was just doesn't exist. Think about how hard you may have worked on a pset just to fail it. That’s how disappointed I was, times 128329131. I had originally given it a 3/10 but the more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Just don’t get this. It’s not worth it.

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Steak Quesadilla ($10.25)

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AYH: Unlike Achilito’s, the Jefe’s quesadilla was cut into four triangular pieces — just how I like it. I was also happy to see that the steak was in chunk form. However, I quickly noticed that nearly two inches of the outer edge of the quesadilla had no filling. In fact, you could fold it into what resembled a piece of pie. I would appreciate it if a math concentrator could let me know how much quesadilla surface area we lost because of this. Also, for all you health nuts, the outside of the quesadilla was far less oily than that of Achilito’s. After taking my first bite, I continued to chew on the same piece of steak until I gave up and swallowed it whole — disappointing. Like its chewiness, its lack of taste made me think of an old piece of bubble gum.

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Overall, I give this a 5.7/10. Certainly better than the shrimp tacos but also just barely mediocre. If you ever want to build your jawline without mewing, just order this.

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DSG: Because I am an avid fan of steak quesadillas, I was not as harsh with this tasting. I took a bite of this and legit all I tasted was steak. I felt like Goldilocks: Achilito’s didn’t have enough and Jefe’s had too much. Jefe’s steak is just soooo hard to chew. My jaw was definitely proving its strength during this. Don’t get me wrong, the taste was not bad but it definitely depends on the bite. Like three of my bites were just tortillas with nothing else, not even cheese. The salsa verde is great and that’s why I highkey hogged it. It was the only amazing thing about this quesadilla.

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Overall, I gave this a 4.5/10. The taste is definitely there but with restrictions. This was WAY better than the shrimp tacos but just several steps down than what I’m used to.

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Overall

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AYH: If I’m being honest, I came into this thinking that I would like Jefe’s more. Especially because of its price, I didn’t want to prefer Achilito’s. Nonetheless, it appears that the difference in price translates into a difference in taste. In the case of the shrimp taco and the steak quesadilla, I crown Achilito’s the winner. When I can’t stomach the high price, I will still go to Jefe’s (just not for shrimp tacos). However, when I want to eat for taste, I will walk the extra distance to hit up Achilito’s.

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\r\nDSG: Achilito’s is just better. Yes, it's more expensive, but it’s worth the price. I am a person that loves to spend money on food. This entire semester I’ve spent it on Jefe’s, but after exploring Achilito’s, that’s where I will be taking my business. I mean, you get what you pay for. That’s not to say Achilito’s is this perfect food place — just like every restaurant, it has its flaws. But I found that it has less flaws and more food variety. I suggest you take the extra two minutes to walk there from the Yard and enjoy a great, more authentic meal. Go to Jefe’s for the vibes, but go to Achilito’s for the taste.

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{shortcode-6adfd903ed034dcb608fe20662fb36c737ff9c74}Everyday, when I wake up in the morning to the sunlight gleaming on my face, I wonder how long my laptop’s battery will last before ultimately dying. I get to class and I begrudgingly open my 2020 13-inch Rose Gold MacBook Air — yes, I fell victim to aesthetics. As I am unwillingly propelled back into the academic world, I open my Notion Calendar and Google Chrome to at least physically lock in.

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Soon after that, a distinctive swshhhhh starts to play. I turn from my left to my right (checking my surroundings), wondering if any of my peers mind my computer’s cry for help. My battery starts going from 100 percent to 90 to 80 and so on. The increments of 10 almost mock my inability to stop it. I have approximately three hours before I lose her cooperation.

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A concerned peer might ask: “What about using it on the charger?”.

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No.

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I can’t do that. Trust me I tried, but the last time she died on me the battery replacement cost me $350. Therefore, I must take the walk of shame to my nearest outlet and plug her in. I can only watch in dismay as I ponder about what life will be like after her, sort of following my ex’s inner dialogue before he broke up with me. And just like he probably did, I weighed the pros and cons of sustaining my current relationship — with my laptop.

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My laptop has been with me throughout the pandemic, highschool, and college applications. I think it's only fair to consider the history we have. I mean after all, she got me into Harvard and her presence alone earned me compliments throughout high school. And if I gaslight myself, she’s really not as bad as a Surface laptop.

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For so long her support system was my support system, but now it seems like it's time to call it quits (command +shift + QQ). I didn’t know that on the day we met, I would be plagued by her restrictions to open more than three tabs at a time. While everyone else types away during class, I have to worry about her stove-like top. I just know that I deserve better than typing on keys as hot as the frying pan gets when I cook or hardware that sounds like the airplane engine that takes me back to my home state. All I have to say to her is, it’s not you, well it kind of is, but it’s mostly me. I can’t help it… she’s just no longer the Macbook I want.

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Hate your laptop as much as I do? Maybe it’s time to pull the plug.

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{shortcode-4b8f08719a0188e0f6bb34fec36bac343231b56a}Alas, midterms are out of our minds and we’re moving on to finals season! Of course, if it were up to us, we would simply ignore the existence of finals season but unfortunately, that is not in our nor your hands :(. So to prepare you for reading period, we, at Flyby, have gathered a list that will help you *lock in* and grind out your upcoming exams or final papers, smoothly and effectively. Without further ado, readers, hold on to these tips to avoid being a proclaimed Lamonster or a victim of the “Sunday Scaries!”

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Plan Out Your Time

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As college students, we tend to have too much on our plates and that can be difficult to manage. To avoid jumbling up your schedule and innocently forgetting schoolwork or meetings, mark down what you have to do and when you have to do it along with time increments. This may be easier said than done, but scheduling your time can reinforce your priorities and help you be ahead in the game and on top of your classes. I like to plan out my schedule on Google Keep, but many of my other peers would prefer a physical journal or Google Calendar, go with what works best for you!

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Take Breaks

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Tackling on schoolwork all at once is not the most effective way to complete or retain material. Ten hour cram sessions in Lamont are, in fact, not healthy. Shocking! Setting aside free time and going back to school work later can help your brain feel refreshed to power through assignments. So go ahead and listen to that podcast, laugh at the comedy show, or chat with friends during a brain break!

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Resources

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When it comes to this period of the semester, it is not strange to ask for help from faculty at Harvard as they are advised to help you with your academic and emotional needs. If you ever need help, office hours, ARC tutors, the Writing Center, and CAMHS could be a great resort for you to receive feedback on studying methods, course material, writing skills, and mental health. It’s ideal to seek these resources earlier than later, as in the last weeks of the semester spots tend to fill up as other students are in the same boat too.

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Set Motivators

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If you ever feel discouraged from studying or completing assignments, set rewards for yourself after accomplishing your to-lists! Trick your mind into thinking that tasks need to get done before you can indulge in activities like feeding into your online shopping addiction, going into Boston with friends, or getting a slice of pizza at Pinocchio’s. If you have crippling FOMO like me, your agenda will get done in no time!

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So as you go ahead and battle through the reading period, remember that it’s not just about acing exams or final papers. It’s about finding a balance, taking care of yourself, and recognizing that your worth isn’t defined by a grade. With these last few weeks of the semester, approach your courses with confidence, and know that Flyby is cheering for you! Happy Primal Scream!

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{shortcode-05adf2139af87976d6fc40002069ff498bcf259f}Does the number of psets you have due this week leave a sour taste in your mouth? Or maybe you’re ready to spill your guts out as you write this long overdue paper. Regardless, read on to determine which Olivia Rodrigo album you are at this point in the semester.

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Imagine this: it’s 3 a.m. on a Tuesday and you’ve finally finished your Hum 10 essay, except all you have to come home to is your sad, empty, tiny hallway single. Now imagine it a little differently: you’re coming back from a long night at Lamont to your suitemates gathered in your common room yapping over some late-night snacks. Not only do you have a space filled with laughter to come home to, but if you have a single (or even a double), you have a little space to yourself at the end of the night.

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As the proud member of a four person suite who will likely be moving into a hallway double next year, I can’t help but look back at my year in my suite and be grateful that I hit the jackpot. Not only was the common room a great place to meet friends of friends at the beginning of the year, but it was the perfect spot to do work in between discussing me and my suitemates’ latest section crushes.

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Suite-style living provides the opportunity for built-in friendships and access to a whole new network of people. Some of my favorite memories are coming back from a night out to a debrief on the floor of our common-room-turned-secret-society (“but don’t tell anyone this” has been said countless times in my room).

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The benefits of an n+1 common room cannot be overstated. Are you in a double that is just not working out? Is one of you a super light sleeper? Does your roommate snore sometimes? Or… do you just simply hate each other? The suite life solves that problem. Luckily, my suite’s transition from one double and two singles to four solo rooms was amicable, but sometimes you’re not as lucky. With an extra built-in single in your suite, instead of having to move to the quad for some alone time, you can do it from the comfort of your common room.

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Also, you’re only in college once. What better way to bother meet new people than living with them? Some people may say, “Yeah, but with my hallway single in Pfoho, I never have to worry about being sexiled or my roommates having people over when I’m deep into midterms.” To that I say, you’re missing out on a vital part of the college experience. Sometimes conflict builds character. From occasional fights with your suitemates, you can learn valuable life lessons about living with people and conflict resolution. And besides, everyone needs a first-date anecdote about your “crazy suitemate.” So, the next time you get in a fight with your roommate, thank them for helping you fill that last 10 minutes of therapy when you’ve run out of things to talk about.

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I wouldn’t trade the suite life for anything… but unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. Although I’ll have air-conditioning next year, I would much rather be hanging out in my 100 degree Thayer common room with all my suitemates and our friends.

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{shortcode-60ceee4edd49bf8fb6981d494e997fcce6315931}Congrats freshmen! You’re officially entering the end of your first school year at Harvard and entering hell sophomore year. Let’s recap all the things you’ve said during your two semesters on campus, through Bingo!

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Hi, Class of 2028! Welcome to Harvard, both figuratively (you got in) and literally (you are on our campus for Visitas right now)! Let us introduce ourselves — we're Flyby Blog, the best and only student life blog on campus. We know there's a lot going on, but we've been where you are. So, we wrote a ton of articles to help you out. Here's a breakdown of what we have to offer:

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How to Make the Most of Visitas: Do's and Don'ts

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Follow these ground rules to avoid a major faux-pas and/or a minor fashion emergency.

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28 Vocab Words for the Class of 2028

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Harvard students through a lot of lingo around. Use this guide to get caught up.

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We're Not Really Strangers: Visitas Edition

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Use these conversation starters to avoid extremely awkward small talk with other prefrosh.

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Don't Be Fooled by Visitas

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Harvard's putting its best foot forward this weekend, but we'll give you some other helpful tips to help you decide about entire semesters.

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What Makes Harvard Unique

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It's not all fun and games... but some of it is — find out what!

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Best of: Flyby's Visitas Features

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Still curious? We do one of these Visitas features every year (maybe you'll help us write next year's!). We have tips on making friends, not getting lost, and even making the most of Visitas if you can't make it to campus.

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Best of luck this weekend, Class of 2028! We'll see you in the fall.

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Class of 2028: let us be the millionth to say, welcome to Harvard! Here in the ivory tower, we have a lot of lingo that we will immediately throw around without explaining anything. We, that is, meaning people other than Flyby Blog, the best/coolest/most fun section of The Harvard Crimson (the school newspaper you’re currently reading — we’ll give you that one for free). So, trust us to give you everything you need to know to not be lost, literally and figuratively, during this weekend and the next four years!

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1. The Yard

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The historic home of the freshmen (unless you’re in the Quad of the Yard Crimson Yard), the not-John Harvard statue, and flocks of tourists.

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2. The Houses

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Like Harry Potter, first-years are sorted into one of the twelve upperclassmen houses. Each House has their own Deans, advising team, dining halls, libraries, gyms, and special amenities such as massage rooms and student-run grilles. What’s the best one, you ask? The one you get randomly sorted into.

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3. The Quad

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Located on the old Radcliffe campus, the Quad is home to three upperclassmen houses, some of the best food on campus, and the best dogspotting. Quadlings (Quad residents) will tell you it isn't that far, but the fifteen-minute walk says otherwise (please don’t come for me).

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4. The SEC

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Short for Science and Engineering Complex, the SEC is the cheese-grater-like innovation hub on the Allston campus. There, you’ll find a majority of engineering and computer science classes, state-of-the-art technology, free (!!) acai bowls and coffee, and a plethora of Trader Joe’s snacks, a student-favorite grocery store right across the street.

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5. Berg

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Annenberg (Berg) is the freshman-only dining hall. As a first-year, this is where you’ll experience heartbreak, tourist break-ins, the best friendships and the worst fights. Fun fact to share with your family: Berg is the inspiration for Hogwarts’ Great Hall and has the largest collection of secular stained glass in the country.

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6. D-hall

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“Dee-hall”. Short for dining hall.

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7. HUDS (“hudds”)

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Harvard University Dining Services, with the nicest staff in the dining halls!

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8. Blocking

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Don’t worry about it yet.

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9. Punching

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Don’t worry about it yet, part 2.

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10. Entryway

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The first community you will have at Harvard! An entryway is composed of 20-30 first-years in the same dorm, overseen by a live-in proctor (see below) and a peer advising team who will organize delicious study breaks.

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11. Proctor

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The equivalent of an RA at other colleges. Typically a graduate student or Harvard employee who lives in the freshman entryway and can support you with anything from laundry to life advice.

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12. PAF (paff)

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Each freshman is assigned a Peer Advising Fellow, an upperclassman who can share unique insights about any and all things Harvard student life.

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13. Widener / Lamont / Cabot Science Library

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Harvard libraries! Each has their own vibe, which you can read more about here!

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14. The Mac

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Gym bros and professors alike frequent the Malkin Athletic Center (dubbed ‘The Mac’). Go there to get your anger out or see your history professor sweating over Ally Love’s 45-minute pop Peloton ride.

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15. Tasty Basty

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The basement of Tasty Burger. Absolute rock bottom for your social life. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a promoter in disguise. And yet, even the shuttle couldn’t stay away…

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16. Sidechat

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Harvard’s app-only anonymous student forum that you’ll probably use more than actual media outlets for your daily news. (Except, obviously you’ll read The Crimson every day.)

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17. Rakesh / Dean Khurana

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Legally, this is not a Rakesh fan account. But also, go follow our favorite dean on Instagram. Bonus if you can make it on feed during Visitas!

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18. Concentration

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Harvard’s (and Brown’s) word for a major.

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19. Joint vs. Double vs. Special Concentration

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Joint: You’re multidisciplinary.

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Double: You’re multidisciplinary and willing to take more classes if it means you don’t have to write a senior thesis.

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Special: You’re so multidisciplinary that even Harvard’s 50 undergraduate concentrations don’t cover your multidisciplinary-ness.

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20. Secondary

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Harvard’s (not Brown’s!!!) word for a minor.

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21. Comp

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You thought college applications were the end of it? SIKE! Grind never stops. Comps are applications or initiation processes for clubs. It can stand for competitive, completion, and/or competition.

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22. Google Calendar / GCal (Gee-kal)

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What seemed to be a slightly better user-friendly alternative to iCal will soon run your social and academic life. Once you start scheduling meals with people, you’ll know you’re truly a Harvard student.

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23. When2meet

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GCal’s ugly cousin. The last resort when the tenth “that time doesn’t work for me” text has been sent. If you’ve resorted to when2meet, you might as well ditch the friendship already.

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24. MCS

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Mignone Center for Career Services, because we all know you’re here at Harvard to make bank and sell your soul to consulting and investment banking to pursue fulfilling intellectual enlightenment and better oneself as a lifelong learner.

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25. TF, PSL, CA

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A course’s Teaching Fellows (TF), Peer Study Leaders (PSL) and CAs (Course Assistants) are graduate and undergraduate assistants who have usually taken the course before and can help you answer questions about the course and its assignments.

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26. Animals of Harvard:

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Remy: The cutest orange cat. Despite all Sidechat rumors, he is still alive!

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The Turkeys: At first you’ll think they’re cute. Then you’ll realize they’re three feet tall. Then you’ll realize that they can fly.

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Goose: The jackets worth more than your Macbook Air, or the rabid beasts by the River.

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That Guy That Goes Too Hard to “Mo Bamba”: Avoid at all costs.

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27. The T

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He loves me, he loves me not. The T works, the T does not — it’s different every day! Run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the T is Boston’s subway system that services the metro area. Take the Red Line from Harvard Square into downtown Boston for much-needed getaways from campus. Or, take the extremely slept-on 1 bus!

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28. Flyby Blog

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Harvard’s premier student blog. Publishes a daily newsletter that is a must-subscribe for all Harvard students. thecrimson.com/subscribe and choose Harvard Today! You’ll get an email every morning with the menu, the weather, and events with ~free food~...

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{shortcode-b824607a6c4bbcee6cf160eb57482c929612be57} Hello, perspective prefrosh! First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on stumbling upon the best piece of public service journalism you will find during your time as a Harvard student. But I’ll cut to the chase; here’s why you should attend this red-brick-road school that some call a “small liberal arts college outside of Boston,” instead of other colleges that are small OR liberal arts OR outside of Boston.

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The Housing System

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When you arrive at Harvard, it might be your first time away from home, but don’t worry; its support networks will always have your back!

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When you’re a freshman student, you have the opportunity to participate in close-knit pre-orientation groups and you will receive a Peer Advising Follow (PAF) based on your entryway. A PAF acts as your upperclassman guide to the Harvard bubble.

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Better yet, you will look forward to being sorted into one of our 12 upperclassmen houses on a magical campus holiday called Housing Day. You create groups of up to eight freshmen students, known as a “Blocking Group,” and you get to live in the same House for the next three years.

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Each House has its own traditions and quirks. Maybe you’ll fall in love with Lowell tea or Mather’s monkey bread or even get lucky enough to secure a ticket to Eliot’s spring formal known as Fête.

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The current housing system is a completely randomized lottery, but back in the day, freshmen students ranked upperclassmen Houses, so they had distinct personalities.

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What if your House doesn’t turn out to be your perfect fit? You can transfer to another one. Whether you enjoy the Quad or the River, you will find your home here.

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The Math Lounge

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One of our biggest academic buildings on campus is the Science Center, which is home to all the premed introduction classes, random Gen Ed lectures, and probably all your 9 a.m. classes.

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But many don’t realize that it is also home to a free espresso machine on the fourth floor in the Math Lounge. Do yourself a favor and learn how to use it; your sleep deprivation and wallet will thank you.

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Apart from the free caffeine, the lounge is also a lovely place to study and do homework, especially if you're in need of a blackboard. It even has a spacious balcony if you want to people-watch or pretend you’re the main character and romanticize the view of Harvard Yard.

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Being Boston-Adjacent

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Cambridge is around half an hour away from anywhere you’d want to visit in Boston. Spend a Sunday morning visiting the Museum of Fine Arts or window shop on Newbury Street — there’s plenty of good food and shopping just a short MBTA ride away.

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The good thing about not being truly in the heart of Boston is that you can always escape the chaos. Go thrifting in Central Square, explore the food court in Porter Square, or maybe even take a class at MIT. Cambridge has the duality of being integrated into Boston and living in its own little world.

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Extracurricular Obsession Passion

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Harvard students are just as passionate about their extracurriculars as they are about their studies, if not more! You’ll meet people creating startups, pursuing activism, or even working on presidential campaigns (yeah, that presidency). The passion people have here for their life outside of class makes for mind-blowing and motivating stories. But also, please chill sometimes.

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Brain Break

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Every school night, there’s this lovely thing called Brain Break! Harvard knows its students stay up until strange hours studying or binge-watching Netflix, so each dining hall offers an assortment of late-night snacks for students to refuel themselves or take a break.

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The Jefe’s vs. Felipe’s Debate

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Harvard students judge you on which Mexican restaurant you prefer, so you better make your choice wisely. These two spots are right across the street from each other, with one being known for giant portions while the other has a lively rooftop bar. You will most likely pledge your allegiance to one and grab it every time you need a late-night snack or miss dinner.

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Never-Ending Supply of Cafés

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From Pavement to Blank Street to Peets, you’ll find your favorite quickly. You can always count on Harvard Square for a caffeinated beverage that’ll fulfill your craving. We have coffee, tea, a CVS with a wide selection of energy drinks, and, of course, boba!

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Sundae Sunday

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Each Sunday night at dinner, you’ll find ice cream and a plethora of toppings to create your own ‘Sunday Sundae.’ Need I say more?

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Myriad of Research Opportunities

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Science? Social Science? Engineering? The Humanities? It doesn’t matter what interests you; Harvard probably has the perfect research assistantship or summer program for you. With dozens of stipend opportunities available to undergraduates, if research is your thing, dive right in. And Boston’s truckload of hospitals aren’t only great if you manage to break a bone tripping on the brick sidewalks: they have labs, too!

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Cross-Registration

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Have you ever wanted to cosplay as a law or medical student without all the loans? Or maybe you got rejected from MIT but don’t know how to break it to your grandparents. Do not fear, cross-registration is here! Harvard students can take classes at the majority of the graduate schools or even at MIT to count towards their degree by petitioning their academic department for credit.

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Proximity to Trader Joe’s

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You might not know it yet, but you’re going to fall in love with a grocery store named Trader Joe’s. With niche snacks, seasonal flavors, and prices that won’t leave you feeling robbed like CVS, you will become obsessed with it.

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There’s a Trader Joe’s near the ~new~ Science and Engineering Complex in Allston, and a secret second one 15 minutes down Memorial Drive from River East. I promise you will find grocery shopping such a treat, and you will love trying all of their new snacks to find your favorites.

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Unlimited D-hall Swipes

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We may not beat Boston University for their top-ranking d-hall, but we do have unlimited swipes. It’s nice to never have to worry about which meal plan to choose or if I have enough on my card to grab a meal. While Harvard University Dining Services is not always the fanciest (cough, cough, Yale), it’s reliable and stress-free. Also, you will become besties with your House d-hall swiper, the member of HUDS who greets students as they enter the servery!

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Flyby Blog (of The Harvard Crimson)

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Come back and read Flyby for all the life hacks you need to know as a Harvard student, or maybe even join us! Rumor has that we are also part of a 150-year-old newspaper that has scooped the New York Times multiple times… Maybe you’ll make your own list of Harvard quirks. :)

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Dear Class of 2028,

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Visitas is fast approaching, and you’ll soon be surrounded by your fellow admits as you revel in finally standing in Harvard’s (so they say) hallowed halls. Amidst the chaos of Visitas and a gazillion club info sessions, academic fairs, and late-night events, making quality conversation with your peers, let alone remembering the names of the 300 prospective Economics and Government concentrators you just met, will be more difficult than trying to recite the names of all the near-identical red brick buildings in the Yard.

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Before you commit immediate friendship transgressions by asking questions like “What other colleges did you get into?” or “Are you going to Bulldog Days after this,” let us be your guiding star. We’re Flyby, your trusty navigators through the treacherous waters of small talk. Because let’s face it, you’re not here to only collect LinkedIn connections and merch you’ll never use; you’re here to get to know the Harvard ~community~ and meet other members of the Class of 2028.

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So buckle up, dear prefrosh, as we unveil our expert-approved, mildly concerning, and certainly memorable conversation starters for Visitas. And don’t worry, if you accidentally blurt out that you’re concentrating in “Quantum Basket Weaving,” we’ve got your back.

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The Weather Gambit: “Isn’t this New England breeze invigorating?” you’ll say, as if you’ve just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel. Bonus points if you can mention something about the torrential downpour and your hands being cold.

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The Literary Lure: “I’m currently reading Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason for fun.” You’re not, but it’s a power move to establish your intellectuality. They’ll either be impressed or question your sanity. Either way, you’ve got their attention.

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The Uno Reverse: If you’re ever asked about your academic prospects (or if your mind has gone completely blank), reply with “What do you think I should concentrate in?” Let your new friend think that you actually will let their answer dictate your entire undergraduate career. It’ll make them feel special and perhaps even convince them to give you their number instead of their Insta that they are never active on. Don’t ask them to pick your major, though; that’ll just show them that you don’t know your Harvard vocab, and that’s embarrassing.

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The Pre-Existing Connection: “Hey, do you know John Harvard?” You know absolutely nothing of substance about John, but you did suffer through one very awkward text conversation with him right after Decision Day, so you might as well make use of it.

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The Heart-to-Heart: “I think my Visitas host hates me,” you’ll confide, and your new acquaintance will automatically jump to reassure you or (if their Visitas host signed up to house them for the express purpose of securing a spot at the club fair) respond with their own tale of woe. There’s nothing like a few tears to solidify a friendship.

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If all else fails: “When’s the last time you felt happiness?”

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Even if these conversation starters fail — though, trust us, they won’t — just remember: some of these kids are destined for St. Anford, but you, my friend, are on the Crimson Express to greatness.

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Dear prospective prefrosh: we hope you enjoy Visitas, but it’s time we told you the truth…

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While Harvard arranged events with rose-colored glasses, the grass truly did seem to get greener for the weekend…and HUDS was slightly better than usual. Let’s talk about some realities of going here that will reveal themselves to you if you choose to drive into the Yard in August.

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The Boston Cold

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April in Boston may seem cold, but the chill you experienced this weekend is actually known as extremely mild weather. Sometimes in January and February, the stars will align and the weather will even drop to negative numbers (and no, I don’t mean in Celsius).

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Remember to buy a winter coat, and brace yourself for five to 30 minute-long walks in the freezing cold weather with ice and snow all around you. You’ll have to brave through these conditions for class because the last time Harvard gave us a snow day was my freshman year (almost three years ago).

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The temperature isn’t the only thing that drops during Boston winters. Prepare yourself for a drop in motivation to leave your warm, cozy bed whenever it’s freezing. And I’m so sorry, but when you live in the Yard, chances are your heating situation may not be up to par and you’ll need to have (at least) three blankets on your person.

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It’ll be cold, but at least you’ll have a million assignments to keep you distracted!

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Harvard University Dining Services

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Our HUDS workers are fabulous, but you will never see a shred of fresh fruit or berries in the d-hall once you're an enrolled student here. Strawberries will indicate some kind of campus holiday, or if you’re lucky, you’ll have it during your (upperclassman) House’s community nights. I will never understand why, but once or twice a semester, HUDS chooses to make gourmet meals that leave us day-dreaming of bread, cheese, and fruit every other day. When did berries and bread become such a treat?

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Even if you didn’t like fruit before coming to Harvard, you’ll suddenly find yourself at Trader Joe’s buying mangoes and grapes. What happened to your taste buds, you ask? You miss fruit, and you don’t even know it.

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It’s more than likely that you will be served chicken entrees every other day, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll rotate between the pasta station and the grill more than you'd like to admit. BUT, at least you’ll learn to appreciate home-cooked meals much more when you go home for breaks.

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Club Comps

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Remember all those clubs whose events you attended this weekend? Yeah… they will actually email you in the fall. Everything’s great until you realize that instead of handing out cool swag to convince you to join their club, you will now have to convince the club that you are worthy of being dubbed a member of their organization. Thus begins comp season: a typically semester-long process of completing tasks for club membership, Survivor style.

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Harvard’s social scene revolves around clubs and extracurricular activities, so they tend to hold many shiny things in front of their compers’ eyes to motivate them to work harder to become a member of their organization. And yes, I might be talking about our many consulting clubs with fancy formals and member gifts such as Apple Watches at the end of every semester.

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Comp processes can become just as rigorous as classes and can last weeks, or even a whole semester as you work to earn your place in your organization of choice. Always remember that the opportunities meant to find you will find you. Trust the (comp) process!

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Comping organizations can definitely help you meet people and make connections, but it can also become pretty stressful, pretty quickly. However, most people find something that fits, so do not fear that you’ll find your favorite homework procrastination option soon enough, whether it’s the Crimson (we hope), the IOP, PBHA, or breaking into the world of ~business~.

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Workload

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During Visitas, you spend two magical days at Harvard without a pset floating above your head, an essay just waiting to take you out, or a mountain of 200 pages of reading.

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Enjoy the feeling of freedom before you’re hit with the prefrosh virtual orientation modules and a million assignments as soon as courses start. The difference between these two things is that one has consequences, while the other at most warrants an annoyed email from your proctor. My advice: prioritize where you must!

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This might be the reality of going to Harvard, but let me remind you that this is the reality of going to any other college, just at varying degrees!

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So, Class of 2028, I hope this article helps clarify some of the realities of being a college student, but please don’t let this stop you from coming here in the fall. Harvard is a wonderful place, but you also deserve to know what you’re signing up for!

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So, you got into Harvard, but what now? Visitas! Here’s how to maximize your experience at Visitas as a pre-frosh from a current freshman. Warning: these tips may cause you to fall in love with Harvard and immediately commit.

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DO: Pack for all types of weather

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During my Visitas weekend, it poured the entire time. Needless to say, my crewneck and jeans were completely soaked through, and I was freezing the whole weekend. I’m pretty sure a few students ended up picking Y*le because of the sun on their admitted students days. Don’t be an amateur like me — pack for all types of weather! Considering the unpredictability of Massachusetts weather, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that it could snow one day and be seventy degrees and sunny the next.

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DON’T: Spend all your time talking about the other schools you got into

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Just don’t. Everyone admitted to Harvard is amazing in their own right, and there’s no need to try to one-up each other by sharing your acceptance to Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, etc. Take it from me — during Visitas I was added to a group chat called “Crimson Cardinals” (as in students accepted to both Stanford and Harvard). I’m not sure why I was added considering I didn’t even apply to Stanford, but it was still cliquey and weird.

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DO: Know your limits

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Take this one as you will. As a pre-frosh, please don’t make a fool of yourself by going out at night without knowing your limits. This is not the time to find out what your limit is! You DO NOT want to be “that person.” Also, it’s important to know your socialization limits. Visitas is an exciting and rewarding weekend, but it also has the potential to be extremely draining if you don’t know when your social battery might run out.. If you need to escape the crowd for an hour and read a book in the law school library/scroll on TikTok to recharge, do that!

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DON’T: Stay confined to the Yard

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This tip will come naturally to those who are hosted by upperclassmen in the houses. However, if you’re being hosted by a freshman, make an effort to leave the Yard and explore other parts of campus. Walking by the river is a great way to see some of the upperclassman houses and romanticize your next four years at Harvard. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, check out the Quad! After all, it could be your future home.

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DO: Try food in the Square

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In my opinion, a huge draw for Harvard is the city of Cambridge. If you’re already sick of HUDS, check out places to grab food in the Square. Make some new friends (or enemies, but hopefully not) and settle the ongoing Jefe’s vs. Felipe’s and Noch’s vs. Joe’s debate!

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DON’T: Plan out your four years

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I’m as guilty as anyone for doing this, but refrain from crafting your class schedule for the next four years — or even for the next year. Chances are, you aren’t going to end up taking LS 50, Math 55, CS 50, and Stat 110 all in your first semester. This isn’t high school anymore!

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DO: Attend a lecture

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One of the most important things I did during my Visitas was attend two lectures: one in the Government department about US-China foreign relations and the other a Gen Ed about Ancient Egyptian civilization. Sitting in on these lectures allowed me to get a real idea of what taking classes as a Harvard student would be like. Pro-tip: attending a lecture is another great way to meet future classmates who are interested in similar topics as you.

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DON’T: Have imposter syndrome

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Easier said than done, I know. You got into Harvard for a reason! You belong here! It may be intimidating to be surrounded by your future classmates who are Olympians, published authors, and cancer researchers, but, trust me, they’re all just as impressed by you. Except for maybe the Olympians because they are, in fact, the coolest.

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DO: Allow for spontaneity

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Visitas has a seemingly endless list of programming to attend. I’d recommend picking a few key events that you prioritize attending, but allow for spontaneity in the rest of your schedule. Some of the best times I had during Visitas were those spontaneous moments — a Gong Cha run where I met people who I’m still friends with today and a pre-med information session (I am not pre-med and never will be, yet I was amazed by the breadth of resources and research opportunities available for undergrads).

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Hopefully these tips ease some of your anxieties about the weekend! Ultimately, trust your gut and be authentic. When you get on campus in the fall, Visitas will be a distant memory, and your ~transformative experience~ will begin.

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Let’s face it: there’s nothing new under the sun, and that includes Visitas. Every year, various upperclassmen (and several second-semester freshmen that feel like high school was forever ago) reserve a five by two rectangle on their floor for an overeager adorably excited prefrosh. Every year, prefrosh schedule 50 events on their calendar and successfully make it to 10 of them in between getting lost between the Science Center and Thayer Hall and oohing and ahhing at the Charles River. Every year, prefrosh are misled (but sadly, not that much) about the quality of HUDS. Every year, Flyby channels nostalgia and trauma from their iterations of Visitas into articles that are poetic, hilarious, or both. So, since there are only so many Visitas-related one-liners we can write without repeating ourselves, here are a few timeless classics for you to reread instead of having us rehash prior years’ jokes for you (though we’re amazing at that). You’re welcome.

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How to: Not Get Lost During Visitas

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I’m sorry, but this article is required reading before you step foot on campus. I’ll have a hard enough time getting to class on time with the Class of 2028 monopolizing my shower; I don’t need you loitering on the sidewalk to delay me further. Download PassioGo, switch your Google (or Apple) Maps default travel setting to walking, and plan your commute well enough to not interrupt mine.

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Making Friends at Visitas: Do’s and Don’ts

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You think you know social etiquette, but you don’t. Just trust me. Please read this article, and please don’t commit one of the mentioned social faux paus, or you will end up in one of our infamous overheards.

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What We Wished We Had Done During Visitas

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Do you want to have a suboptimal Visitas experience? Do you want to have paralyzing nightmares for the rest of your life because of your Visitas regrets? Yeah, I thought not. Learn from us older (not that much!!!!!) and wiser students, and consider these tips to make your Visitas memorable in a good way.

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Things to Do During Visitas That Aren’t on the Programming

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I know you’ve already planned your entire itinerary on whichever mildly defunct platform the admissions office has chosen for event scheduling this year, but you should take another few minutes (which is like 5 percent of the time you spent making your original itinerary) to pencil some of the items in this article into your schedule. Your visit will be better for it!

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Visitas Bingo 2023!

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I already told you, there’s nothing new under the sun. Despite the title, this bingo card is not 2023-specific. It is just as applicable (and fun!) in 2024 (and 2025, or 2026, or 2027…if you’re reading this in the future). Have this handy for whenever you make the mistake of attending a speaker session and realizing five minutes into the hour-long event that you’re bored out of your mind.

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How to: Visit Harvard Without Visiting Harvard

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If you can’t make it to campus this Visitas, this article is the (year-old) miracle you’ve been waiting for. If you are visiting in-person, you might as well still read it and weep in preparation for your arrival on campus. It’ll make campus landmarks a little bit more familiar and clue you in to campus culture. You wouldn’t visit France without learning to say Bonjour, would you?

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Hopefully this suggested reading list will help you arrive on campus ready to explore all that Visitas has to offer, but if the articles above don’t quite answer all your questions, don’t forget that Flyby has many, many more articles just waiting to be read. The world is your (Flyby-described) oyster!

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{shortcode-c6d6fa45ea444fda1fbe94a67f9b473d49e532f6}We at Flyby are not immune to propaganda. Search “section kid” in Flyby’s archives and you’ll find countless posts insulting the overzealous academic archetype. Yes, section kids, a.k.a. the people who talk wayyyy more than anyone else in a section, can be annoying. But it’s time for me to come out of the closet (for the second and far less serious time): I am a section kid.

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That’s right. If there’s a moment of silence in my section, I will be filling it with a question, an observation, or a quote from the reading. I don’t raise my hand with the pen in it, but I do raise my hand with my elbow still on the table, which is almost as bad. And if I know the answer to a question, I will be saying that answer. But here’s the thing: you can hate on me all you want — but at the end of the day, who’s keeping you from having to do the reading? Because it sure as hell isn’t the TF.

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Do you want to answer that question? No? Yeah, I didn’t think so. And you know who does want to answer that question, because I can’t stand silence and get bored if I have to go ten minutes without hearing the sound of my own voice? Me. So I don’t understand why we can’t both just acknowledge the symbiotic relationship we have going here.

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We section kids have feelings too. Shame, for instance, at not being able to keep ourselves from voicing our thoughts (which are, of course, God’s gift to academia) whenever we have something to say. Embarrassment, when the TF inevitably goes, “Anyone else…?” instead of responding enthusiastically to our insightful comments. Yes, you feel boredom and irritation because you’re tired of hearing the admittedly slightly nasal sound of my voice. But I feel betrayal that you don’t understand that we’re on the same side.

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So, next time you find yourself complaining about the section kid (without first making sure you’re out of earshot… you know who you are…), remember: we are the engine that runs this campus. We are the mitochondria of this cell. And if you’re here at Harvard, you were probably the section kid in high school, so get off your high horse.

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Now, “devil’s advocates,” on the other hand? Absolutely inexcusable. Just stand behind your (bad) opinion already. We section kids do NOT claim them. And kids who wear suits to class can stay, but they’re on thin ice.

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